'Monster's Time' Part 4 Exposes Serial Killer Choi Se-yong, the Real-Life Inspiration for 'The Roundup 2', Achieves 2.95% Viewership

SBS crime documentary 'Monster's Time' Part 4 deeply delved into the full story of the serial kidnapping and murder case in the Philippines, masterminded by Choi Se-yong, known as the real-life inspiration for the movie 'The Roundup 2'.

The broadcast recorded a moment-by-moment highest viewership rating of 2.95%, solidifying its top position in non-drama genre ratings for its time slot (based on Nielsen Korea metropolitan household standards).

Dubbed the 'CEO of a Killing Company,' Choi Se-yong's crimes targeted Koreans visiting the Philippines for language studies or travel between 2008 and 2012. Posing as guesthouse owners or offering help with English studies and tourism through local Korean communities, they lured victims into traps. He is suspected of kidnapping at least 19 people and murdering 7, with 4 victims still missing, leaving their families in unending pain.

Choi Se-yong's background revealed a difficult childhood under a gambler father, leading him to a life of crime starting with theft at the young age of 14 in Seoul. He repeatedly served prison time for special theft as a minor. Despite his criminal path, he reportedly studied diligently in prison, earning his middle and high school diplomas through equivalency exams with help from elder inmates. He even recognized the business potential of PC bangs early on, proposing the venture to his brother.

Rather than committing murders directly, Choi Se-yong displayed a tendency to manipulate accomplices through intelligent tactics, avoiding getting his own hands dirty. Even during thefts for his PC bang business, he scouted targets and ordered accomplices to execute the crimes. He orchestrated numerous murders, including the Anyang currency exchange murder and a murder without a body, using gaslighting to control his co-conspirators like puppets. He reportedly staged a gruesome 'performance' by killing a person brought by a former manager to recruit him for illegal loan brokering, instilling immense fear. The former manager, even after arrest, addressed Choi Se-yong with utmost respect, expressing fear, stating, 'You never know what that person will do.' Another accomplice, Kim Seong-gon, claimed he had no choice but to participate due to Choi Se-yong's persistent gaslighting.

Choi Se-yong's meticulousness was evident in every aspect of his crimes. As the investigation closed in, he found a look-alike to create a forged passport, even instructing the person to wear his signature black-rimmed glasses for the photo. He meticulously erased traces by using walkie-talkies instead of mobile phones. His public defender recalled him as 'like a machine, with no emotional changes,' and a prosecutor described his ability to understand context and fabricate the most advantageous lies as being 'like a drama script,' highlighting his cold and cunning nature.

The unending tragedy continued for the families of the victims, including Yoon Cheol-wan, whose parents visited the Philippines searching for their son. Their anguish while visiting the suspected burial site and his last known accommodation deeply moved viewers.

'Monster's Time' warned that Choi Se-yong's atrocities did not end with his life sentence. The prosecutor from the case revealed that Choi Se-yong is still actively pursuing retrials or parole, indicating his legal battles are ongoing and his cruel ambitions could resurface at any time.

The 4-part series 'Monster's Time' concluded, receiving praise for opening new horizons in crime documentaries, evidenced by its top ranking in non-drama viewership and its entry into Netflix's TOP 3 in South Korea.

Korean netizens expressed shock and anger, commenting, 'How can Choi Se-yong be so inhuman?', 'It's chilling that The Roundup 2 was based on such a real person,' and 'It's shocking that he still hasn't shown remorse.' The public reacted with outrage to Choi Se-yong's brutal crimes and his attempts to distort the truth.